About SAT Mathematics Level 1&2

There are two SAT Subject Tests for Mathematics: SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 1 and SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 2. A full description and practice questions can be found on the Collegeboard site here.

SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 1 is a little more demanding and slightly more difficult than the mathematics required for the SAT and ACT mathematics and therefore should not require very much additional preparation.

SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 2, however, is a markedly more difficult examination, which requires a more profound understanding of additional areas of mathematics at a more generally elevated level. There is a lot of time pressure in the examination: 50 questions in 60 minutes. Very few, even of the very best, manage to complete all 50 questions, though it is still possible to attain an 800 score by leaving up to 8 blanks (assuming, of course, that all the other questions have been answered correctly). Therefore, it is not only important to know all the material/syllabus inside out but it is equally important to be very quick and efficient at answering the questions.

It should be noted that the more highly ranked universities will not consider SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 1 as an entry requirement, insisting on prospective students to take SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 2. And for certain degrees, such as Engineering, SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 2 is a prerequisite.

At the Tree Foundation Tutorial College we have tutors who have scored perfect scores in the SAT Subject Test Mathematics and thus know very what preparation and which test-taking strategies are required to score an 800. If you are interested in preparing for either SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 1 and/or 2 then please contact us.

FAQ

This is a rather prickly question to answer. As the SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 2 is generally taken by strong mathematics students the bar is raised commensurately, and so the average score is proportionally higher, currently at around 710/800. A respectable score in the SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 2 mathematics is typically more than 750, and anyone who has appreciated the test and has a notion of the scoring will appreciate that such a score is indicative of high pre-college standard of mathematics. Please refer to the Official Collegeboard SAT Subject Test Percentiles.

In the case of SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 1 the scoring is more symmetrically distributed though there is the caveat that the Level 1 is considerably easier than Level 2 and is not necessarily considered a valid SAT Subject Test at many of the more highly ranked universities.

What happens if I do not attain the desired score on my first sitting? If you are well prepared and you have done the appropriate practice you should know what scores you expect to attain in the real test, and generally you will get your just deserves. However, there have been many students in the past who have not attained the scores that reflect their full potential on their first sitting and in such cases they normally re-sit the examination at the earliest opportunity when the desired score is realised.

Practice materials – Recommended textbooks

Over our years of experience, we recommend the following for specific SAT Subject Test preparation at the time of writing: